WHITE HOUSE TO EXTEND STUDENT LOAN PAUSE THROUGH AUG. 31

From Tampa Bay Times
By Associated Press - Collin Binkley and Zeke Miller  -  April 5, 2022

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration plans to freeze federal student loan payments through Aug. 31, extending a moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to postpone payments during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an administration official familiar with the White House’s decision-making. READ MORE

ALMOST 5,000 STRUGGLING FLORIDA READERS REAPED BENEFITS OF
READING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN 2020-21

From Reimagined Online
By Patrick Gibbons  -  April 6, 2022

Nearly $2.5 million in Reading Scholarships were awarded to 4,961 Florida students during the 2020-21 school year according to a report prepared by the state-approved scholarship-funding organization that helps administer the scholarship. READ MORE

2022 Florida Charter School Fact Sheet Shows 702 Charter Schools Serving 361,939 Students

361,939 charter school students is 12.8 percent of the overall number of K-12 students enrolled in Florida public schools.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (April 7, 2022) – The 2022 Florida Charter School Fact Sheet counts 702 charter schools providing educational opportunities to 361,939 Florida students.  The fact sheet was recently issued by the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS).  It is the leading charter school membership association in the state, with a membership of nearly 75 percent of all operating charter schools. 

The 2022 totals represent an additional 19 Florida charter schools and 20,013 more students.  19 additional charter schools translate to an increase of 2.8 percent over the 2021 total, while an increase of 20,013 students equates to an increase of 5.9 percent.

The 361,939 charter school students in Florida is 12.8 percent of the overall number of K-12 students enrolled in Florida public schools.

In 2022, charter schools operate in 47 of Florida’s 67 counties.  That number is unchanged from 2021.

In addition to updating the numbers of schools and students, the 2022 fact sheet includes general background information about public charter schools and how they are funded.

The two-page fact sheet includes a page of “Myths Versus Truths” about charter schools.

“The 2022 Florida Charter School Fact Sheet is a handy reference for details about the scope and background of charter schools in Florida,”  said Robert Haag, President of FCPCS.  “Charter schools continue to expand in our state, even as the COVID-19 pandemic slows the overall growth of Florida’s public schools.

The fact sheet is available online at https://www.floridacharterschools.org/assets/docs/Legislative/FCPCS%202022%20Fact%20Sheet-ONLINE.pdf

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state, with a membership of nearly 75 percent of all operating charter schools.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven.  FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.

NEW $2 MILLION DOJ GRANT WILL CREATE DASHBOARD TRACKING SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENTS

From Florida Politics
By Anne Geggis   March 24, 2022

The effort jibes with the incident-reporting goals in a recent legislative update to the Marjory Stoneman High School Public Safety Act.
School-by-school data on safety incidents such as fights, stolen property or suspensions will be reported, for the first time, on a month-by-month basis through the state Department of Education (DOE) starting in 2023.  READ MORE